Page:The Poor Rich Man, and the Rich Poor Man.djvu/93

Rh Mrs. Aikin, in some obscure place, are using their faculties and seizing their opportunities of doing good, never to be known and praised by the world, but certainly recorded in the book of life? While the vest was passing round to be examined and praised by Aunt Lottie, Uncle Phil, and all, for their joys were in common in this little family, Aikin entered, and had his share in the general pleasure; but his brow soon clouded. Children are quick readers of faces they love.

"What is the matter, father?" asked Willie; "is that ugly pain in your breast come again?"

"No, something worse, Willie; a pain in my heart."

"What is the matter ?" asked Susan, anxiously. Every eye now turned to Aikin.

"It's poor M'Elroy's troubles again. He called me in as I was passing. There lay his wife on the floor, dead drunk. Returning from the grocer's, she slipped down the cellar stairs, and is so black and bruised, her head so swollen, you would not know her. The children were crying, and he wringing his hands and saying, 'I can bear it no longer.' He, every week of his life, earns more than I do, and this bad woman wastes it. This comes of marrying a poor, ignorant, ill-brought-up girl, who had nothing but a pretty face to recommend her. M'Elroy says his children are going to destruction. She makes them play truant, sends them out begging, puts lies into their mouths, and, last and worse than all, gives them rum to drink."

"Dear me! dear me!" exclaimed Susan, "what can be done for them?"